Circuitous elevator



May 3, 1932.

W. F. EAMES CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed June 16 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'INVENTOR L L; Mllzam 1 James ATT'ORNEY May 3, 1932.

w. F. EAMES CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed June 16 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 El El E] El IZI E] El INVENTOR Willzamli'l'dmes ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1932 umrco STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM I. OI EDGEWOOD, PERNSYLYANIA, ABSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OI PENNSYLVANIA OIROUITOUS ELEVATOR Application filed June 18, 1980. Serial No. 481,887.

My invention relates to circuitous elevators, especially to circuitous elevators for parking or storing automobiles, and has particular relation to a control system for controlling the movement of the elevator.

Various types of circuitous elevators have long been suggested as a means for parking or storlng a lar e number of automobiles upon a comparative y small ground area as a solution to the parking problem incident to congested metro olitan areas.

While my invention is applicable to circuitous elevators of any type, it is illustratedas applied to a preferredconstruction thereof which is disclosed in the copending application of H. D. James, Serial N 0. 330,455 filed January 5, 1929, assigned to the Westing ouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and which comprises a plurality of load receptacles supported in succession in two vertical columns tween a pair of vertically disposed endless chains spaced apart a suitable distance, one chain supportmg one side of a re ceptacle and the other chain supporting the opposite side at a corresponding level, the receptacles being movable successively through the two vertical columns in an endless path.

Various control systems for the driving motive means of the circuitous elevators have been suggested for effecting the movement thereof to move a selected cage or receptacle to a loading station.

The most simple control system comprises a commonly known and used motor control system for reversibly controlling the movement of a driving motor to effect movement of a circuitous elevator in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, the starting and stopping of the elevator being manually regulated by an experienced operator.

Another control system suggested comprises a means for automatically selecting a direction of movement of the circuitous elevator to cause a selected cage to move to a loading station by the shortest route. Such a control system is disclosed in the copending application of F. E. Lewis, Serial No. 398,898, filed October 11, 1929, assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co However, this control system permits the registration of but one call and requires that the operation effected in response to this call be completed before a single subsequent call may be registered.

Another suggested control system comprises means for 1permitting a collective registratlon of calls, t at is, a registration of a plurality of calls whether the operation in response to the first call has been completed or not, and automatically effecting a response to succeeding calls in the natural order of movement of the cages past a loadin station.

Such a control system is disc osed in the copending application of W. S. Rugg,-Serial No. 205,875, led July 15, 1927, assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8:.- Manufacturing Company. This control system, however, is limited to a single direction of movement of the cages, that is, for example, a clockwise direction of movement.

My invention is distinguished over all of the prior control systems just described in that a plurality of calls may be collectively established or registered and in response thereto the cages will be moved to a loading station by the shortest route and stopped thereat. It is further distinguished over any of the control systems above described in that it effects response to calls which require a direction of movement of the circuitous elevator which is the same as the circuitous elevator just previously had, in preference to calls requiring an opposite direction of I Therefore, it is an object of my invention to'provide a control system for a circuitous elevator which comprises means for establishing a plurality of calls prior to the completion of the operation effected in response to the first call registered and which is effective to cause the selected cages, corresponding to calls established, to be automatically moved to a loading station by the shortest route and stopped thereat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control system for a circuitous eleva tor which comprises means for collectively registering calls and means for effecting a response to calls requiring a direction of movement of the circuitous elevator which is the same in direction as that which it just previously had, in preference to calls requirmg an opposite direction of movement thereof.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, be made clear in the subsequentdescription thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a full line diagrammatic representation of a circuitous elevator and a control system therefor for effecting the various objects of my invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the relative positlons of a direction selector switch, an auxiliary selector switch, and the circuitous elevator, respectively, when a particular cage #2 for example, is at the lowermost position of travel.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the relative positions of the same elements, respectively, when cage #3 is at the lowermost posltion of its travel.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the relative positlons of the same elements, respectively, when cage #8 is at the lowermost position of its travel, and

Fig. 11 is a straight line diagram corresponding to the full line diagram of Fig. 1.

Since the particular structure of the C1!- cuitous elevator is immaterial to the application of my invention, no detailed description will be herein given. Briefly, however,

- it comprises a building structure 11 which ma or may not be totally enclosed, (refer to Fig. 1) in which a plurality of cages, or receptacles 1 to 8 of a size suitable for supporting automobiles are pivotally supported between a pair of spaced apart endless chams which are movable around upper and lower supporting sprocket wheels 31 in an endless movement successively through two vertical paths.

A driving motor 12, through a suitable gear drive 13, the sprocket wheels of which engage the endless chains effects the movement of the circuitous elevator. In the figure, the loading and unloading position of the cages is at the ground floor 14 of the building structure 11. However, any other position may be employed without changing in any way, the principles of my invention. The lowermost position is preferred, since the loading and unloading of an automobile may be most easily accomplished in that position. That is, the automobile may be driven directly from an adjacent floor level into a cagethrough one or either end thereof without the aid of additional mechanical motive means, such as an elevating. truck for liftin the automobile bodily and moving it lateral y into a cage, which is necessary where the loading or unloading of a cage 15 efi'ected while it is stopped in one of the two vertical paths. I

A door-way 9 is provided in the buildin structure at the ground floor 14, throug which the automobiles may pass to enter or leave a cage. A door for opening and closing the door-way (not shown) may be provi ed of an suitable construction, such as a sliding or exible roll type thereof.

Ad acent the door-way 9 and attached to the outside wall of the buildin structure is a panel P, having a plurality o push-button switches 1' to 8', such as are commonl known and used in the elevator art, whic are for the purpose of calling cages 1 to 8, respectively, to the loadin station at floor 14. Briefly, each of the us -button switches comprises a plunger-r0 16, having thereon a button 18 at one end for engagement by the hand of the operator and a contact member a, for simultaneously engaging and connecting together the three contact members I), c, and 0! when the button 18 is pressed against a spring (not shown) which maintains the contact member a, normally disengaged from the members 12, c, and d.

The connection of the contact members 0 and d closes an energizing circuit throu h a holding coil 15, which by magnetic pul on the rod 16 maintains the contact member a, in engagement with the contact members I), a, and (i when the operator removes his hand from the button 18. A release coil 17 is provided which, when energized, exerts a pull upon the plunger 16, opposite in direction to and stronger than the pull exerted by the holding coil 15, and thereby effects the disengagement of the contact member a, from the contact members I), 0, and d.

A manually operable releasing means for disengaging the contact member a, from contact members b, c and d is also provided and comprises a button 18' suitably associated with the plunger 16 through a lever 19 pivoted at the fulcrum 20 so that when button 18' is depressed it raises plunger 16 causing the contact member a, to disengage contact members I), 0, and d. The manual release of the push buttons is for the purpose of can celling a call without disturbing any of the other calls registered. The need for such feature might arise, for example, when it is desired to cancel a call erroneously established, whereby unnecessary movement of the circuitous elevator is prevented.

A master cancellation push-button switch 35 is provided, preferably located on the panel P, which is in the control circuit to the holding coils of allthe push-button switches 1' to 8, and which when opened efiects the nections to the driving motor 12 for a clock wise direction of movement of the circuitous elevator and effects the operation of a magnetically'operated brake 63 for the motor 12.

A counter-clockwise direction determiner relay 42 is provided for efiecting the operation of a rela 420 which controls the electrical connectlons to the driving motor 12 for a counter-clockwise direction of movement of the circuitous elevator and efi'ects the operation of the brake 63.

The push buttons 1' to 8' are so connected to the direction determiner relays 41 and 42 through a direction selector switch 21, that the proper relay is actuated to efi'ect a movement of the circuitous elevator to move a cage corresponding to the push-button operated to the loading station at floor 14 by the shortest route.

The construction of the selector switch 21 does not constitute a part of my invention, since the basic principle of a selector of this type is disclosed in the copending applicat1on of 'F. E. Lewis, previously mentioned.

Therefore, the diagrammatic representation of Fig. 1 is deemed sufiicient for the purpose of describing my invention.

The selector switch 21, comprises a ringhaving two semi-circular conducting segments 51 and 99 mounted on an insulating drum (not shown) and separated from each other by comparatively short insulating segments .51 and 99, preferably of a length sufli'cient to prevent the brush members 1 to 8, which are disposed around the periphery of the ring at regular angular intervals and in engagement therewith, from bridging the gap between the two segments 51 and 99. One of the semi-circular segments is slightly longer than the other and arbitrarily the segment 51 is 50 illustrated. The purpose of having one segment longer than the other is to effect an engagement of all the remaining brush members with either one of the segments 51 and 99 when one of them engages the insulating segment 51 whereby a call for all cages except the cage at the loading station "may be established. In Fig. 1 brush member 1" is illustrated as engaging the insulating seg-. ment 51 and all the other brush members 2" to 8 are in engagement with either segment 51 or segment 99, depending upon their physical position. i

The insulating drum to which the segments 51 and 99 are attached is rotated in corre-- spondence with the movement of the receptacles by any'suitable means, such as, for ex ample, an extension of shaft 30, to which a lower sprocket wheel 31. of the circuitous elevator is keyed. The insulatin segment 51 engages one of the brush mem rs 1" to 8" at the time that the cage corresponding to that brush member is at the loading station and engages successively the other brush members as the cages corresponding thereto reach the loading station.

Two conducting rings 49 and 106 are also provided and mounted in insulated relation to each other, on the drum, and coaxially with the segments 51 and 99, the ring 49 being electrically connected to the segment 51 by a conductor 50, and the ring 106 being similarly connected to the segment 99 by the conductor 107. Brush members 48 and 105 engage the rings 49 and 106, respectively, and establish a permanent connection from the segments 51 and 99, respectively, to the coil 44 of the clock-wise direction determiner relay 41 and the coil 97 of the counter-clockwise direction determiner relay 42, respectively. The closing of the relay 41 eliects the closing of relay 41C and the" closing of relay 42 effects the closing of relay 42C, the relay 41C effecting the actuation of the driving motor 12 to move the circuitous elevator in a clockwise direction, and the relay 42C efi'ecting the actuation of the motoi' 12 to move the circuitous elevator in a counterclockwise direction.

Thus, the physical position of the cages with respect to the building structure, determining as it does the physical position of the segments 51 and 99 of the selector 21, determines also which of the relays 41 or 42 is energized, that relay being energized which effects the movement of the circuitous elevator to move the selected cage to the loading station by the shortest route.

In the copending application of F. E. Lewis, previously mentioned, the automatic stopping of a selected cage at the loading station is effected by a selector switch having an insulating segment, corresponding to the insulating segment 51, engaging the brush member associated therewith and corresponding to a selected cage, whereby the control circuit for the driving motor is interrupted.

As adapted to my invention, this selector switch is distinguished from its use in the application of F. E. Lewis, in that it effects only the automatic selection of the proper direction of movement of the circuitous elevator to secure the shortest route of travel of a selected cage to the loading station, and does not effect the automatic stopping of the selected cage when it reaches the station.

The automatic stopping of a selected cage when it reaches the loading station is effected in my invention by means of inductor relays 22 and 23, of the type commonl known and used in the elevator art, suita ly disposed near the loading station at floor 14 and in proper position for cooperation with a pair of inductor lates 24 and 25, disposed on each cage. The inductor relays 22 are effective to stop the cages at the loading station as they reach that position after movement in a counter clockwise direction and the inductor relays 23 are effective to stop the cages when they reach the loading station after movement in a clockwise direction.

The inductor plate 24 on each cage is so positioned at one end andjat the bottom thereof that, in the natural path of movement of the cage, it will cooperate with the armature of the relay 22 to eflect the opening of the contact members a, of that relay. The inductor plate 25 on each cage is similarly positioned so as to cooperate with the armature of the inductor relay 23 and open the contact members a, of that, relay. The opening of the contact members a of either inductor relay effects the opening of the control circuit to the driving motor 12 to stop the circuitous elevator and it occurs at a time so determined that the selected cage is automatically stopped in substantial alincment with the loading station at the floor 14.

An auxiliary selector switch 26 is provided to automatically effect the energization of the coils 22 and 23' of the inductor relays 22 and 23, respectively, a short interval of time prior to the cooperative engagement therewith by the inductor plates on the selected cage, and also to automatically energize the release coil 17 of that oneof the pushbutton switches 1 to 8' corresponding to the selected cage arriving at the loading station to cause the contact member a, to disengage the contact members I), 0 and d of the pushbutton switch at this time. The selector switch 26 comprises, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, a stationary segmentary ring having conducting segments 1S to 8S, the same in number as the number of cages on the circuitous elevator and corresponding respectively thereto, each segment being of the same length and separated by insulating segments 27 disposed 'therebetween. The segments 18 to 8S are connected by electrical conductors through the corresponding release coils 17 of the pushbutton switches 1 to 8, respectively, and contact members 0, a, and d of the corresponding push-button switches 1 to 8 to supply conductor L2. Thus only those segments, the

corresponding push-button switches for which have been closed, are connected to supply conductor L2.

A collector ring 28, rotatable in correspondence with the movement of the cages, has a projecting finger 29, which successively engages the stationary segments 1S to SS in its rotation. The finger engages the particular segment corresponding to the cage nearest the loading station.

The rin 28 of the auxiliary selector 26 is movable like the drum of the selector 21 in correspondence with the movement of the cages and any suitable means for effecting its corresponding movement may be employed.

For the (purpose of simplicity, the ring is ilsponse thereto which is the same as it just previously had, over established calls which require a direction of-movement of the circuitous elevator in response thereto which is opposite to that which it ust previously had. The relay TEl when actuated prevents a movement of the circuitous elevator in a counter-clockwise direction, and the relay TE2 when actuated prevents a movement of the circuitous elevator in a clockwise direction.

The interlock relays are actuated through a circuit controlled by the push-button switches 1 to 8' and the selector 21 and, depending upon which relay is first actuated by the operation of a push-button switch, that relay is maintained in an actuated position until, all established calls which require its energization to effect the movement of the cages corresponding thereto to the loading station by the shortest route, have been responded to.

A means such as a dash-pot 98 is associated with the relay TEl for delaying its action to release the interlock of control until the expiration of a predetermined time after its deenergization. A similar dash-pot 98 is provided for the relay TE2 to serve a similar purpose.

The operation of my invention may be best understood by assuming a hypothetical case. Let it be assumed that the circuitous elevator is in such a position that the cage #1 is at the loading station (see Fig. 1) and that each of three persons simultaneously desires to secure different cages, either for the purpose of storing an automobile or removing it from storage. Let it be assumed that the first person desires to call cage #2, the second person cage #8 and the third person cage #3 and that they press the pushbuttons 2', 8 and 3 in that order. The contact members 0, a, and d of each of the push-button switches when closed, momentarily close energizing circuits through the holding coils 15 of their respective pushbutton switches and the contact members a, are thereby held in a closed position when the operator subsequently removes his finger from the push-button. The energizing circuit for the holding coil 15 of the push-button b of each of the ush-button switches 2, 8-

switch 2' extends from supply conductor L1,

through conductors 32, 33 and 34, normally closed contact members'of the cancellation push-button35, conductors 36 and 37, holdthe same, since the holding coils of all the switch. 5

push-buttons are in parallel.

The closing of the contact members .a and and 3' connects t e supply conductor L2 to the brush members 2", 8 and 3", respectively.

Since the push-button 2' was the first operated, the clockwise direction determiner relay 41 and the time-element relay TEl are energized, by a circuit extending from supply conductor L1, through conductor 40, normally closed contact members a, of the timeelement relay TE2, conductor 43, to the junction point 43, thence in parallel through coil 44 of the relay 41 and coil 45 of the rela TEl to a junction point 46, thence throug conductor .47, brush member 48 of the direction selector 21,- ring 49, the connecting strap 50, clockwise segment 51, brush 2" conductor 52, contact members 6, a and (l oi the pushbutton switch 2, conductors 38 and 39 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of thecontact members a, of the relay 41 energizes the clockwise relay 410, through a circuit which extends from supply conductor L1, through conductors 32 and 53, normally closed contact members of the manually operable emergency stop pushbutton switch 54, conductor 55, the dooroperated switch 56 (closed when the door is closed), conductor 57, normally closed contact members a, of the inductor relay 23,

L1 I in parallel through the push-button conductor 58, contact members a of the rela 41, conductor 59, coil 60 of the rela 41 and conductor 61 to supply conductor 2.

The energization of the coil 60 causes the normally open contact members a, b, c, and d of the relay 41C to close. The contact members a, when closed, establish an energizing circuit for the brake coil 62 of a magnetically operated brake 63 operating on the shaft 64 of the motor 12.

p The brake isof a well known type which isheld in a normal braking position by a resilient member such as a spring and released against the force of the spring by a solenoid magnet. The energizing circuit for the magnet coil 62 extends romsupply condnctor L1, through conductor 65, magnet coil 62,-conductor 66, contact members a, of the relay 41C, conductors 67, 68, and 61 to supply conductor L2. Thus the brake is immediately .released when relay 410 is actuated to a closed position and the motor 12 for driving the circuitous elevator is allowed to rotate.

The closing of the contact members b,\0, and d of relay 41C connects the terminalsof the three phases 12C, 12B, and 12A of the motor 12, to the three-phase alternating current supply conductors AC3, AC2, and AC1 respectively, which results in the rotation oi the motor 12 in such direction as to move the circuitous elevator in a clockwise direction.

It will thus be clear from the circuit as previousl traced that if the emergency is opened,'it will efiect thedeenergization of the coil 60 of the relay 41C and thereby cause the immediate stopping of the circuitous elevator. The switch 54 is also mcluded in the control circuit of the coil 108 of the counter-clockwise relay 42C and therefore it Wlll, if opened, effect the immediate stopping of the circuitous elevator when it is moving in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The relay TEl is for the purpose of eflectmg a preferential response to calls which requlre the same direction of movement of the circuitous elevator as it just previously had when that direction is clockwise, over calls requiring an opposite, that is, a counterclockwise direction of movement thereof. The energization of the coil 45 causes the normally closed contact members a, of relay TEl to open, and since these contact members are in the control circuit of the direction determiner relay 42- and the time-element relay IE2 for theopposite direction of movement,

it will be understood that, as long as the conswitches 2 and 3' and through brush members 2" and 3" to the ring 49, and thus the relays are maintained energized as longas there are any calls existing which require the same direction of movement of the cages as they just previously had. I

As the cage #2 approaches the floor level 14 at the loading station, the contact finger 29 on the ring 28 of the auxiliar selector 26 engages the segment 28 thus 0 osing the energizing circuit throu h the coil 69 of the relay 7 O, which extends rom supply conductor L1, through conductors 32, 33, 71, and 72, coil 69, conductor 73, brush 74, ring 28 contact finger 29, segment 2S, conductor 75, release coil 17 of the push-button switch 2, conductor 76, contact member 0, a and d of the push-button switch 2 and conductors 38 and 39 to supply conductor L2.

' The e'n'ergization of the coil 69 effects the closin of the normally 0 en contact members a, of t e relay 70, and t ereby completes an energizing circuit through the inductor relay coils 22 and 23' and the coil 77 of the relay 78, which extends from supply conductor L1, through conductors 32, 33 and 79 to a junction point 80, thence in parallel through two branches -to a junction oint 83, the one branch comprising a con uctor 81, coils 22 and 23 of the inductor relays 22 and 23, conductor 82 and the other branch comprising coil 77 of the relay 78 and conductor 84, thence through contact members a, of the relay 70, conductor 85, door-operated switch 86 (closed when the door is closed) and conductors 87 and 39 to supply conductor L2.

The energization of the coil 77 causes the normally open contact members a, b, o, and d of the relay 78 to close. The closing of the contact members 6 of the relay 78 establishes a shunting circuit around the coil 69 causing its'deenergizationand the opening of the contact members a, of the relay 70. The closing of contact members 6 of the relay 78 also permits a sufiicient amount of current to flow through the release coil 17 of the push-button switch 2 through the circuit previously traced in order to energize that coil to release the push-button switch 2' and cause to open, thus opening the circuit to the brush 2" from supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a of relay 78 establishes a shunting circuit around the contact members a of the relay and therefore, although the latter have opened, the energizing circuit for the coil 77 of the relay 78 and the coils 22' and 23 of the inductor relays is maintained through the former contact members since they close before the latter open.

The length of the segments 18 to 8S is such that the energization of the inductor relay coils 22' and 23' is eflfected a short interval of time prior to the cooperative association of the inductor plate 25 with the inductor relay 23. Therefore, as the cage 2 continues to approach the loading statlon, the inductor late 25 moves past the armature of the in uctor relay 23 with the result that the armature is pivotally moved on'its fulcrum, causing the contact members a, of the inductor relay 23 to open.

The opening of the contact members a of the inductor relay 23 opens the energizing circuit through the coil 60 of the clockwise relay 416 which circuit has been previously traced. This results in the deenergization of the coil 60 which in turn effects the subsequent stopping of the driving motor 12 and o the setting of the brake 63.

The inductor relay '23 is so positioned with respect to the loading station, and the operation of the brake 63 is, such that the cage #2 is stopped in substantial'alinement with the floor 14. The relative positions of the cages of the circuitous elevator at this time are illustrated in Fig. 4 and the positions of the selector 21 and the auxiliary selector 26 for the same time are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. It should be noted that brush 2" is in engagement with the insulating segment 51' of the selector 21 and the contact finger 29 of the auxiliary, selector 26 is in engagement with the segment 28.

When the circuitous elevator is completely stopped, some person, such as the person who called cage #2 opens the door provided at the door-way 9. Suitable means for opening the door and reclosing it may be provided, such as, a motor operating mechanism controllable by a well ,known push-button control system or the door may be manually opened and closed.

After the door is opened the person who called cage #2 may either drive his automobile upon the cage or drive it oil the cage as the case might be. The opening of the door opens the door operated switch 86 (closed when the door is closed) and the opening of the latter effects the deenergization of the inductor coils 22' and 23 as well as the coil 77 of the relay 78. The deenergization of the coil 23 effects the reclosing of the contact members a of the inductor relay 23, but the energizing circuit through the clockwise direction relay 410 is not reclosed since the circuit is maintained open b the open door operated switch 56. There ore, until the door is reclosed resulting in the reclosing of switch 56 the circuitous elevator cannot be moved.

It should also be noted that the opening and reclosing of the door is necessary, subsequent to the stopping of a ca e at the loading station, in order to allow urther movement of the circuitous elevator. This is so, because, in order to effect a reclosing of the contact members a of the inductor relay 23, the coil 23 of that relay must be deener ized. Since the energizing circuit for the in uctor relay coils 22 and 23 extends through the door operated switch 86, it will be seen that, in order to deenergize these coils, it is necessary to open the door, which, of course, opens the switch 86.

The opening of the switch 86 efiects the deenergization of coil 77, which results in the opening of the contact members a, b, c and d of the relay 7 8. The opening of contact members 6, removes the shunting circuit from the coil 69 of the relay 7 0, but since the contact finger 29 rests on segment 2S (see Fig. 3) the energizing circuit through coil 69 is open because the push-button switch 2 is pen.

Also, therefore, the coils 77, 22 and 23' are not energized because the contact members a of the relay 78 and the contact'members a of the relay 7 0 both in the control circuit thereof in parallel with each other, are now open.

As will be recalled, there is an established call for car #3 and thus the energizing cirtion of the direction relay 41C is not effected upon the reclosing of the contact members a of the inductor relay 23 because the door operated switch 56 (open when the door is open), prevents its energization. Upon the reolosing of the door, however, the switch 56 closes the energizing circuit through the relay 41C again, and the actuation of the motor 12 is thus effected to move the circuitous elevator again in a clockwise direction. Obviously, the counter-clockwise movement could not take place, since contact members a of the clockwise determiner relay TE1,

which are maintained open by the-continued energization of the coil 45 of that relay, prevent the energization of the coil 97 of the counter-clockwise determiner relay 42, which, of course, prevents the energization of the counter-clockwise direction relay 42C.

The manner in which a preferential response is given to a call requiring the same direction of movement of the circuitous elevator as it just previously had, over a call which requires'an opposite direction of movement of the receptacles should thus, be clear.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that cage #3 requires a clockwise direction of movement to move by the shortest route to the lower-most position, occupied in the figure by cage #2, and that cage #8 requires a counter-clockwise direction of movement to move by the shortest route to the same position. Therefore, my control system effects a response to the call for cage #3 before the call for cage #8 since the circuitous elevator just previously moved in a clockwise direction.

The circuitous elevator continues to move in a clockwise direction as a result of reclosing the door, until the contact finger 29 engages the segment 3S, which happening effects the energization of relay which in turn, as before described causes the energization of the relay 7 8 and the coils of the in ductor relays 22 and 23. As before described also, the shunting of the coil 69 of the relay 7 O by the closing of contact members I; of the relay 78 allows a suflicient amount of current to flow through the release coil 17, of the push-button corresponding to that one of the segments 18 to 8S engaged by the contact finger 29, to result in the opening of the pushbutton switch. Therefore, in the case assumed, the push-button switch 3' opens and interrupts the connection from supply conductor L2 to brush 3" of the selector 21.

The openin of the push-button 3' would result in the eenergization of the relays 41 and TEl but they are maintained energized through the contact members a of the relay 78, which has previously closed as above described, by an energizing circuit that extends from supply conductor L1, through conductor 40, contact members a of the relay TE2, conductor 43, to junction point 43, thence in parallel through coils 44 and 45 of the relays 41 and TEl, respectively, to the junction point 46, thence through conductors 47 and- 91, contact members a of the relay 78, conductors 92 and 93,-resistor 90 and conductors 94 and 39 to line conductor L2.

The resistance of the resistor 90 is such that it permits sufficient current to fiow through the coils '44 and 45 of the relays 41 and TEl, respectively, to maintain them energized once they are energized but it prevents a suflicient amount of current from flowing through them to actuate the relays from a deenergized position. The purpose of the resistor is to prevent the energization of the relays 41 and 'lEl when, with no calls established. the door is closed. It performs the same functions for relay 42, which is for the'purpose of performing functions similar to those of the relay 41 but for a counter-clockwise direction, and for relay TE2, which is for the purposeof performing functions similar to those of the relay TEl but for a counter-clockwise direc tion.

Thus, by the maintained energization of the relays 41 and TEl, the movement of the circuitous elevator is continued until the selected cage #3 is in substantial alinement with the floor 14 at the loading station, at which time the cage is stopped thereat by the operation of the clockwise inductor relay 23, effected when the inductor plate 25 on cage #3 passes the armature of the relay, in av manner similar'to that previously described for the stopping of cage. #2.

The relative positions of the cages, with cage #3 in the bottom-most position is illustrated in Fig. 7 the positions of the segments of the selector 21, with respect to the brushes,

iis

The person who called cage #3 now opens a the door at the loading station, drives his automobile into the cage or out of it, as the case may be, and recloses the door.

The reclosing of the door after cage #3 has reached the loading station effects the deenergization of relays 41.and TEl, since there are no calls established which maintain an energizing circuit from line conductor L2 lishes an energizing circuit through the coil 97 of the counter-clockwise directibn determiner relay 42 and the coil 98 of the relay TE2 when there is another orother calls existing which require a movement of the circuitous elevator in a counter-clockwise direction in response thereto.

Since the established call for cage #8 requires a counter-clockwise movement of the circuitous elevator in response thereto, (and referring to Fig. 7 it will be observed that such is the case,) the relays 42 and TE2 will be energized through a circuit which extends from supply conductor L1, through conductors 40 and 100, contact members a of relay TEl (now closed), conductor 101 to the junction point 102, thence in parallel through coils 97 and 98 of the relays 42 and TE2, respectively, to the junction point 103, thence by conductor 104, brush 105, ring 106, conductor 107, counter-clockwise segment 99, brush 8", and the contact members 6, a, and d of the push-button switch 8', to supply conductor L2.

The energization of the relay 42 closes an energizing circuit through coil 108 of the counter-clockwise relay 42C, which circuit extends from supply conductor L1, through conductors 32 and 53, switch 54, conductor 55, door switch 56, conductor 57, conductor 109, contact members a of the inductor relay 22 (now closed) conductor 110, contact members a of the relay 42, conductor 111, coil 108 of the relay 42C and conductor 61 to supply conductor L2.

The energization of the coil 108 closes the normally open contact members a, b, c, and cl of the relay 42C. The closing of the contact members a effects the release of the brake 63 by energization of the magnet coil 62 in a manner similar to that previously described for contact members a of the relay 41C. The closing of the contact members 6, 0, and cl eflects the connection of the alternating current supply conductors AC3, AC1 and AC2 to the terminals of the phases 12C, 12B and 12A, respectively, of the motor 12, thus reversing the connections to two phases compared to those established by the closing of the contact members 6, c, and d of the relay 41C and eflecting an opposite direction of rotation of the motor 12 to move the circuitous elevator in a. counter-clockwise direction.

The energization of'the coil 98 of the relay TE2 eifects'the opening of the contact members a of that relay, thus interrupting the connection from the supply conductor 1 to the coils 44 and 45 of the relays 41 and TEI,

respectively and thereby establishing a direction preference for subsequent calls which may be registered prior to the expiration of a predetermined time after the stopping of cage #8, which require the same direction of movement \to move their corresponding cages to the loading station by the shortest route.

Cage #8 is thus moved in a counter-clockwise direction to the loading station. It will be observed from Fig.' 7 that this is the shortest route ofItravel thereof to the bottom-most position or loading station. As cage #8 approaches the loadin station, contact member 29 on the ring 28 o the auxiliar selector 26 engages the segment 88 whic results in the energization of coil 69 of the relay 70. The energization of the coil 69 causes the contact members a of the relay 70 to close, elfecting the energization of coil 77 of the relay 78 and the coils 22 and 23 of the inductor relays 22 and 23, respectivel through 'a circuit substantially previous y traced.

The energization of the coil 77 and the closlng of the contact members a of the relay 78 is thereby eflected to maintain the energization of the coil 77 and the inductor relay coils 22 and 23' as previously described. The contact members I) of the relay 78 short circuit the coil 69 of the relay 70 causing that coil to be deener ized andthe release coil 17 to be energized to open the push-button switch 8. As before explained, the opening of the contact members a of the relay 70 does not effect the deenergization of the coils 77 22 and 23, since the contact members a of the relay 78 close before the contact members a of the relay 70 open.

As thecage #8 continues to approach the level of the loading station, the counterclockwise inductor plate 24 on that cage moves past the armature of the inductor relay 22, thus effecting the opening of the contact members a of the inductor relay 22. The opening of contact members a of this inductor relay effects the deenergization of the coil 108 of the relay 42C through the circuit previously traced, resulting in the automatic "stopping of the driving motor 12 and circuitous elevator and in the setting of the brake 63 on the shaft of the motor 12.

The relative positions of the cages with cage #8 in the bottom-most position is illustrated in Fig. 10. The simultaneous position of the segments of the selector 21 is illustrated in Fig. 8, and the simultaneous position of the contact finger 29 of the auxiliary selector 26 is illustrated in Fig. 9. It should be noted in Fig. 8 that the insulatin segment 51 is in engagement with brush 8 and in Fig. 9 that contact finger29 is in en agement with segment 8S. The ersqn w 0 called cage #8 now opens the oor and drives his automobile on cage #8, or drives it out of the cage, as the case may be, and rec'loses the door.

This leaves the circuitous elevator with no further calls established and the relays 42 and TEQ, respectively, are therefore, deenergized upon the reclosingof the door, since the door switch 112 in the control circuit thereof is opened when the door is completely reclosed. The contact members a of the relay 42 are thus immediately opened and after an interval of time, determined by the setting of the dash-pot 98' associated with relay TE2, the contact members a of the relay TE2 are reclosed. Since, as previously mentioned, the resistor 90 prevents energization therethrough of relays 41, 42, TEI, and TE2 upon the reclosing of the door with no other calls established, the first call to be established subsequently, efiects the actuation of the proper direction relays to cause the motor 12 to move the cage corresponding to that call to the loading station by the shortest route whether it requires a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction of movement ofthe circuitous elevator for so doing.

The straight line diagram of Fig. 11 corresponds to the full line diagram of Fig. 1 and corresponding elements in both diagrams are identically designated. The straight line diagram is added merely to aid in the ready comprehension of the circuits comprising my control system, and inasmuch as the description given for the diagram of Fig. 1 will render the diagram of Fig. 11 understandable, no further explanation of it will be lven.

b It will thus be seen that my invention comprises a circuitous elevator having a control system for establishing a plurality of calls before the complete response to any one of them has been effected and whereby all the calls will be automatically answered to move the cages corresponding to the calls to the loading station by the shortest route.-

It will also be seen that my invention has provided a control system which includes a means for establishing a preferential response to established calls requiring the same direction of movement of the circuitous elevator as just previously had, over calls requiring its movements in an opposite direction.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details, arrangement of parts of my invention.

or circuit connections herein set forth as other modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit'and scope I desire therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with'a plurality of load receptacles movable through an en less path successivel past a loading station, and motive means or movmg said receptacles, of a control system for sa d motive means comprism call means operable to collectively estab ish an indipast a loading station, and motive means for moving therecepta'cles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means operable to collectively establish a plurality of calls each call being for an individual receptacle, and means operable to effect a response of said motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and stop themsuccessively thereat. 3. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through .an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a control system for saidmotive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles,

and means, including means movable in'correspondence with the movement ofthe receptacles, for effecting a response of said motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route.

4. In a circuitous elevator, the combinationwith a plurality of load receptacles movopposite directions depending upon the physical position of a receptacle on one or, the other side of a predetermined station, and means operable by the selected receptacle for stopping it upon its arrival at the loading station. 7 I 7/ 5. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls, means for effecting a response of said motive means to successively move the selected receptacles to the loading station in one or the other o t two i ppposite directions depending upon [the physical position of a receptacle on one or and means operable by the called receptacle for stopping it upon its arrival at the loading station.

6. In acircuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a controlsystem for said motive means comprising means for selecting a plurality of receptacleso and collectively registering calls therefor, means for efiecting movement of said motive means to movethe selected receptacles successively to the loading station in one or the other of two opposite directions depending upon the physical position of a receptacle on one or ,the other side of a predetermined station, and

inductor means operable by movement of the selected receptacle therepast for automatically stopping it upon its arrival at the loading station.

7. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means lish a plurality of calls for receptacles and means for efiecting a response of said motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route, and inductor means operable upon the movement of a called receptacle therepast to stop said receptacle at said loading station.

9. In' a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past .a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles and means, including means movable in correspondence with the movement of the recep tacles, for eflecting a response of said motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading stationby the shortest route, and means or stopping them thereat. the other side of a predetermined station,

10. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprislng call means 'for, each receptacle collectively operable to establishfla plurality of calls for receptacles and means including means movable in correspondence with the movement of the receptacles for efiecting a response of said motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by tacle therepast to stop that receptacle at said loading station.

11. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable throug an endless path'successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising a plurality of circuit closing means one for each receptacle, collectively operable to establish a pluralit of calls for receptacles, means associated wit each of said circuit closing means for maintaining it closed when once operated to a closed position, and means operable in response to the calls established for causing said motive means to move the receptacles corresponding thereto to the loading station by the shortest-route.

12. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for 'said motive means comprising a plurality of circuit closing means, one for each receptacle, collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for maintainingeach of said circuit closing means closed when it is operated to a closed position, means operable in response to the calls established to effect the actuation of said motive means to move the receptacles corre- 1 of calls for receptacles, means operable in res onse to the c alls established for causingtion with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a control system for saidmotive means comprising a plurality of circuit closing means, one for each receptacle, collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls to move the corresponding receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route, means responsive to the operation of the said circuit closing means to effect actuation of said motive means, means [operable to stop a called receptacle at said loading station, means movable in corespondence with the movement of the receptacles for rendering said stopping means potentially effective a predetermined interval before the arival of the called receptacle at the loading station.

15. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving the receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprisinga plurality of circuit closing means, one for each receptacle, collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls to move the corresponding receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route, means for maintaining each of said circuitclosing means closed when it is operated to a closed position, means operable in response to the calls established and associated means movable in correspondence with the movement of the receptacles for effecting the actuation of said motive meanscto move the receptacles corresponding to the calls established to the loading station by the shortest route, means operable to stop a called receptacle at said loading station, and means for rendering said stopping means potentially effective a predetermined interval before the arrival of the receptacle at the loading station and for restoring the circuit closing means corresponding to that receptacle to its open position.

16, In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for effecting a response of said motive means to establish calls to move the called receptacles to the loadingstation by theshortest route and to stop them thereat, and means for ef fecting a response to an established call reulring the same direction of movement of te receptacles as they just previously had, in preference to an established call requiring an opposite direction of'movement of the receptacle-in response thereto. I 1

17. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, andmotive means for moving-saidreceptacles, of a control'system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish afiplurality of calls for receptacles, means for e ecting a response of said motive means to said calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them thereat, and means for effecting a response to all established calls requiring the same direction of movement of the receptacles, as they just previously had, in preference to all established calls requiring an opposite direction of movement of the receptacles in response thereto.

18. In a circuitous elevator, the combination witha plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for i moving said receptacles, of a control system 'for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for effecting a response of said motive means to established calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them thereat successively in the natural order in which they reach the loading station, and means for effecting a response to all established calls requiring the same direction of movement of the receptacles as they just previously had, in preference to all established calls requiring an opposite direction of movement of the receptacles in'response thereto.

19, In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for effecting a response of said motive means to said calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them thereat, and means for effecting a response to established calls requiring the same direction of movement of the receptacles as they just previously had inpreference to established calls requiring an opposite direction of movement of the receptacles in response thereto when the former are established before the expiration of a predeterpast a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for effecting a response of said motive means to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them thereat, and interlock means for preventing the actuation of said motive means in response to all calls established which require a direction of movement of the receptacles opposite to that which they had in response to the first call established until all established calls which require the same direction of movement of the receptacles as that which they had in response to the first call established have been completely responded to.

21. In a circuitous elevator, the combina tion with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a control system for said motive means comprising call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for effecting a response of said motive means to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them thereat, and time delay interlock means for preventing the actuation of said motive means in response to all calls established which require a direction of movementof the receptacles opposite to that which they had in response to the first call established until the expiration of a predeter- .mined time after the complete response to all established calls which require the samedirection of movement of the receptacles as that which they had in response to the first call established. v

22. In a circuitous elevator, the combination with a plurality of load receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a loading station, a door, and motive means for moving said receptacles, of a conspouse 0 said motive means to said calls to move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and to stop them.

successively thereat, and switch meansoperable by said door for rendering said'motive means ineffective to respondto any call until the said door has been opened and reclosed subsequently to the complete response to a prior call.

24. In a control system for a motive means .for moving a plurality of receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a station, call means operable to collectively establish an individual call for each of the said plurality of receptacles, and means operable to efiect a response of the motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the station by the shortest route.

25. In a control system for a motive means for moving a plurality of receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a station, call means operable to collectively establish an individual call for each of a plurality of receptacles, and means operable to effect a res onse of the motive means to the establishe calls to move the called receptacles to the station by the shortest route and stop them successively thereat.

26. In a control system for a motive means for moving a plurality of receptacles movable through an endless path successively past a station, call means to collectively establish an individual call for each of a plurality of receptacles, meansoperable to effeet a response of the motive means to the established calls to move the called receptacles to the station by the shortest route, and means for effecting a response of said motive means to a call requiring a direction of movement of the receptacles which is the same as they just previously had in preference to a call requiring a direction of movement of the receptacles in response thereto which is opposite to that which they just previously trol system for said motive means comprish d ing call means for each receptacle collectively operable to establish a plurality of calls for receptacles, means for ellecting a response of said motive means to said callsto move the called receptacles to the loading station by the shortest route and'to stop them successively thereat, and means operable by said door for rendering said motive means ineffective to respond to any call until the said 27. In combination, a plurality of load receptacles, a loading station therefor, means for moving said receptacles successively past said loading station in an endless path, means for selecting and collectively registering an individual call for each receptacle, and means for causing selected receptacles to be moved from any position in the endless path to said loading station by the shortest route.,

I for causing selected receptacles to be moved 28. In combination, a plurality of load receptacles, a loading station therefor, means for movingsaid receptacles successively past said loading station in an endless path, means for selecting and collectively registering an individual call for each receptacle, and means for causing selected rece tacles to be moved from an position in t e endless path to said loa in station by the shortest route and sto PM? successively thereat inthe natural or er in which they reach said loading station.

a 29. In combination, a plurality of load receptacles, a loading statlon therefor, means for moving said receptacles successively past said loading station in an endless path, means for selecting andcollectively registering an individual call for each receptacle, means from any position in the endless path to said loadin station by the shortest route and sto pe successively thereat in the natural or er in which they reach the loading station,

a and means for efiecting a response to calls for receptacles which are in positions requiring the same direction of movement of all the rece tacles as they just previously had in pre erence to calls for receptacles which are in positions requiring an opposite direction of movement of the rece tacles.

In testimony whereof, fhave hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of June, 1930.

WILLIAM F. EAMES. 

